Rigid Sole Structures For Articles Of Footwear

ABSTRACT

Articles of footwear (e.g., for long jump/triple jump events, etc.) may include a sole structure having: (a) a first impact force attenuating component (e.g., foam) that includes top and bottom surfaces (and may be engaged with an outsole member, such as a cleated sole member); (b) a rigid plate component that includes top and bottom surfaces, wherein the bottom surface of the rigid plate component is engaged with the top surface of the first impact force attenuating component; and (c) a second impact force attenuating component (e.g., foam) that includes top and bottom surfaces, wherein the bottom surface of the second impact force attenuating component is engaged with the top surface of the rigid plate component. The rigid plate component may be the stiffest component in the sole structure (e.g., resistant to bending about an axis extending in the medial side-to-lateral side direction).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of footwear. Some aspects of the present invention pertain to articles of athletic footwear and/or sole structures for articles of footwear, e.g., used in track and field events (e.g., for the long jump or triple jump events, etc.).

TERMINOLOGY/GENERAL INFORMATION

First, some general terminology and information is provided that will assist in understanding various portions of this specification and the invention(s) as described herein. As noted above, the present invention relates to the field of footwear. “Footwear” means any type of wearing apparel for the feet, and this term includes, but is not limited to: all types of shoes, boots, sneakers, sandals, thongs, flip-flops, mules, scuffs, slippers, sport-specific shoes (such as track shoes, golf shoes, tennis shoes, baseball cleats, soccer or football cleats, ski boots, basketball shoes, cross training shoes, etc.), and the like.

FIG. 1 also provides information that may be useful for explaining and understanding the specification and/or aspects of this invention. More specifically, FIG. 1 provides a representation of a footwear component 100, which in this illustrated example constitutes a portion of a sole structure for an article of footwear. The same general definitions and terminology described below may apply to footwear in general and/or to other footwear components or portions thereof, such as an upper, a midsole component, an outsole component, a ground-engaging component, etc.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the terms “forward” or “forward direction” as used herein, unless otherwise noted or clear from the context, mean toward or in a direction toward a forwardmost toe (“FT”) area of the footwear structure or component 100. The terms “rearward” or “rearward direction” as used herein, unless otherwise noted or clear from the context, mean toward or in a direction toward a rearmost heel area (“RH”) of the footwear structure or component 100. The terms “lateral” or “lateral side” as used herein, unless otherwise noted or clear from the context, mean the outside or “little toe” side of the footwear structure or component 100. The terms “medial” or “medial side” as used herein, unless otherwise noted or clear from the context, mean the inside or “big toe” side of the footwear structure or component 100.

Also, various example features and aspects of this invention may be disclosed or explained herein with reference to a “longitudinal direction” and/or with respect to a “longitudinal length” of a footwear component 100 (such as a footwear sole structure). As shown in FIG. 1, the “longitudinal direction” is determined as the direction of a line extending from a rearmost heel location (RH in FIG. 1) to the forwardmost toe location (FT in FIG. 1) of the footwear component 100 in question (a sole structure or foot-supporting member in this illustrated example). The “longitudinal length” L is the length dimension measured from the rearmost heel location RH to the forwardmost toe location FT. The rearmost heel location RH and the forwardmost toe location FT may be located by determining the rear heel and forward toe tangent points with respect to front and back parallel vertical planes VP when the component 100 (e.g., sole structure or foot-supporting member in this illustrated example, optionally as part of an article of footwear or foot-receiving device) is oriented on a horizontal support surface S in an unloaded condition (e.g., with no weight or force applied to it other than potentially the weight/force of the shoe components with which it is engaged). If the forwardmost and/or rearmost locations of a specific footwear component 100 constitute a line segment (rather than a tangent point), then the forwardmost toe location and/or the rearmost heel location constitute the mid-point of the corresponding line segment. If the forwardmost and/or rearmost locations of a specific footwear component 100 constitute two or more separated points or line segments, then the forwardmost toe location and/or the rearmost heel location constitute the mid-point of a line segment connecting the furthest spaced and separated points and/or furthest spaced and separated end points of the line segments (irrespective of whether the midpoint itself lies on the component 100 structure). If the forwardmost and/or rearmost locations constitute one or more areas, then the forwardmost toe location and/or the rearmost heel location constitute the geographic center of the area or combined areas (irrespective of whether the geographic center itself lies on the component 100 structure).

Once the longitudinal direction of a component or structure 100 has been determined with the component 100 oriented on a horizontal support surface S in an unloaded condition, planes may be oriented perpendicular to this longitudinal direction (e.g., planes running into and out of the page of FIG. 1). The locations of these perpendicular planes may be specified based on their positions along the longitudinal length L where the perpendicular plane intersects the longitudinal direction between the rearmost heel location RH and the forwardmost toe location FT. In this illustrated example of FIG. 1, the rearmost heel location RH is considered as the origin for measurements (or the “0 L position”) and the forwardmost toe location FT is considered the end of the longitudinal length of this component (or the “1.0 L position”). Plane position may be specified based on its location along the longitudinal length L (between 0 L and 1.0 L), measured forward from the rearmost heel RH location in this example. FIG. 1 shows locations of various planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (and oriented in the transverse direction) and located along the longitudinal length L at positions 0.25 L, 0.4 L, 0.5 L, 0.55 L, 0.6 L, and 0.8 L (measured in a forward direction from the rearmost heel location RH). These planes may extend into and out of the page of the paper from the view shown in FIG. 1, and similar planes may be oriented at any other desired positions along the longitudinal length L. While these planes may be parallel to the parallel vertical planes VP used to determine the rearmost heel RH and forwardmost toe FT locations, this is not a requirement. Rather, the orientations of the perpendicular planes along the longitudinal length L will depend on the orientation of the longitudinal direction, which may or may not be parallel to the horizontal surface S in the arrangement/orientation shown in FIG. 1.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce some concepts relating to this invention in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the invention.

While potentially useful for any desired types or styles of shoes, aspects of this invention may be of particular interest for athletic shoes, including track and/or field shoes (e.g., for long jump and/or triple jump events, etc.).

Some aspects of this invention relate to sole structures for articles of footwear that may include: (a) a first impact force attenuating component (e.g., a foam component) that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface (the ground-facing surface of the first impact force attenuating component may be engaged with an upper-facing surface of a ground-engaging component, such as a cleated sole member); (b) a rigid plate component that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the rigid plate component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the first impact force attenuating component; and (d) a second impact force attenuating component (e.g., a foam component) that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the second impact force attenuating component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the rigid plate component.

Additional aspects of this invention relate to articles of footwear that include an upper and a sole structure engaged with the upper. The sole structure includes any one or more of the features described above and/or any combinations of features described above (and/or any one or more of the features described below and/or any combinations of features described below). The upper may be made from any desired upper materials and/or upper constructions, including upper materials and/or upper constructions as are conventionally known and used in the footwear art (e.g., especially upper materials and/or constructions used in track and/or field shoes (e.g., for long jump or triple jump events, etc.)).

Additional aspects of this invention relate to methods of making sole structure components, sole structures, and/or articles of footwear, e.g., of the various types and structures described above (and described in more detail below).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing Summary, as well as the following Detailed Description, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements in all of the various views in which that reference number appears.

FIG. 1 is provided to help illustrate and explain background and definitional information useful for understanding certain terminology and aspects of this invention;

FIGS. 2A-2C provide lateral side, medial side, and partial bottom views, respectively, of an article of footwear in accordance with at least some aspects of this invention;

FIGS. 2D-2T provide various views of a sole structure for an article of footwear in accordance with at least some aspects of this invention;

FIGS. 3A-3D provide top, bottom, close up rear side, and close up front side views, respectively, of an upper impact force attenuating component useful in at least some examples of this invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B provide top and bottom views, respectively, of one rigid plate component useful in at least some examples of this invention;

FIG. 4C provides a top view of another example rigid plate component useful in some examples of this invention;

FIGS. 5A-5D provide top, close up rear side, close up front side, and bottom views, respectively, of a lower impact force attenuating component useful in at least some examples of this invention;

FIGS. 5E and 5F provide close up rear side and close up front side views, respectively, of a portion of an assembled sole structure in accordance with at least some examples of this invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B provide top and bottom views, respectively, of a ground-engaging component useful in at least some examples of this invention;

FIGS. 7A-7H provide various views to illustrate additional features of the ground-engaging component's support structure in accordance with some example features of this invention; and

FIGS. 8A and 8B provide information used in describing certain testing of midsole structures in accordance with some aspects of this invention.

The reader should understand that the attached drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of various examples of footwear structures and components according to the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example structures and environments in which aspects of the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other structures and environments may be utilized and that structural and functional modifications may be made from the specifically described structures and functions without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ASPECTS AND EXAMPLES OF THIS INVENTION

As noted above, aspects of this invention relate to sole structures for articles of footwear, e.g., athletic shoes for track and/or field events. As a more specific example, sole structures in accordance with at least some examples of this invention may include one or more of: (a) a first (or lower) impact force attenuating component (e.g., a foam component) that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the upper-facing surface of the first impact force attenuating component includes a raised front support surface and a raised rear support surface; (b) a rigid plate component that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the rigid plate component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the first impact force attenuating component; and/or (c) a second (or upper) impact force attenuating component (e.g., a foam component) that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the second impact force attenuating component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the rigid plate component, wherein the ground-facing surface of the second impact force attenuating component includes a lowered front support surface and a lowered rear support surface. In these example structures: (a) a forwardmost portion of the rigid plate component does not overlap the raised front support surface and/or does not overlap the lowered front support surface and/or (b) a rearwardmost portion of the rigid plate component does not overlap the raised rear support surface and/or does not overlap the lowered rear support surface. The forward edge of the rigid plate component in these example structures does not extend to the forwardmost extent of the first and/or second impact force attenuating components and/or the rearward edge of the rigid plate component in this structure does not extend to the rearwardmost extent of the first and/or second impact force attenuating components.

Some example sole structures in accordance with this invention may include one or more of: (a) a first (or lower) impact force attenuating component (e.g., a foam component) that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface; (b) a rigid plate component that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the rigid plate component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the first impact force attenuating component, and wherein the rigid plate component extends continuously: (i) from a heel support area to a forefoot support area of the sole structure and (ii) from a lateral side edge to a medial side edge of the sole structure; and/or (c) a second (or upper) impact force attenuating component (e.g., a foam component) that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the second impact force attenuating component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the rigid plate component. In these example structures: (a) at least at a rear heel location of the sole structure, the upper-facing surface of the first impact force attenuating component is engaged directly with the ground-facing surface of the second impact force attenuating component and/or (b) at least at a forward toe location of the sole structure, the upper-facing surface of the first impact force attenuating component is engaged directly with the ground-facing surface of the second impact force attenuating component. In this manner, the rigid plate component is not exposed at an exterior of the sole structure at a rearmost heel location of the sole structure and/or the rigid plate component is not exposed at an exterior of the sole structure at a forwardmost toe location of the sole structure. In such structures, the upper-facing surface of the first impact force attenuating component is attached directly to the ground-facing surface of the rigid plate component and the ground-facing surface of the second impact force attenuating component. Also, the ground-facing surface of the second impact force attenuating component is attached directly to the upper-facing surface of the rigid plate component and the upper-facing surface of the first impact force attenuating component.

The sole structures described above further may include a ground-engaging component (optionally a cleated ground-engaging component) having an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the upper-facing surface of the ground-engaging component may be engaged with the ground-facing surface of the first impact force attenuating component.

Sole structures in accordance with still additional examples of this invention may include: (a) a cleated ground-engaging component having an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface; (b) a first (or lower) foam component (or other impact force attenuating component) that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the first foam (or other) component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the cleated ground-engaging component; (c) a rigid plate component that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the rigid plate component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the first foam (or other) component; and (d) a second (or upper) foam component (or other impact force attenuating component) that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the second foam (or other) component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the rigid plate component.

Sole structures in accordance with at least some examples of this invention may include one or more of the following features:

-   -   (a) the upper-facing surface of the first foam component (or         other impact force attenuating component) may include a front         raised ridge (or wall) and a raised front support surface         extending forward from the front raised ridge, wherein a forward         edge of the rigid plate component is located adjacent and behind         (e.g., within 1 mm to 5 mm) the front raised ridge and/or the         forwardmost portion of the rigid plate component does not         overlap the raised front support surface;     -   (b) the ground-facing surface of the second foam component (or         other impact force attenuating component) may include a front         lowered ridge (or wall) and a lowered front support surface         extending forward from the front lowered ridge, wherein a         forward edge of the rigid plate component is located adjacent         and behind (e.g., within 1 mm to 5 mm) the front lowered ridge         and/or the forwardmost portion of the rigid plate component does         not overlap the lowered front support surface;     -   (c) when both are present, the raised front support surface of         the first foam (or other impact force attenuating) component and         the lowered front support surface of the second foam (or other         impact force attenuating) component may be directly engaged         together;     -   (d) the upper-facing surface of the first foam component (or         other impact force attenuating component) may include a rear         raised ridge (or wall) and a raised rear support surface         extending rearward from the rear raised ridge, wherein a         rearward edge of the rigid plate component is located adjacent         and forward (e.g., within 1 mm to 5 mm) of this rear raised         ridge and/or the rearwardmost portion of the rigid plate         component does not overlap the raised rear support surface;     -   (e) the ground-facing surface of the second foam component (or         other impact force attenuating component) may include a rear         lowered ridge and a lowered rear support surface extending         rearward from the rear lowered ridge, wherein a rearward edge of         the rigid plate component is located adjacent and forward (e.g.,         within 1 mm to 5 mm) of the rear lowered ridge and/or the         rearwardmost portion of the rigid plate component does not         overlap the lowered rear support surface;     -   (f) when both are present, the raised rear support surface of         the first foam (or other impact force attenuating) component and         the lowered rear support surface of the second foam (or other         impact force attenuating) component may be directly engaged         together;     -   (g) a medial side edge of the rigid plate component may be         exposed at an exterior of the sole structure between the first         foam component (or other impact force attenuating component) and         the second foam component (or other impact force attenuating         component) and/or a lateral side edge of the rigid plate         component may be exposed at the exterior of the sole structure         between the first foam component (or other impact force         attenuating component) and the second foam component (or other         impact force attenuating component);     -   (h) the rigid plate component may not be exposed at an exterior         of the sole structure at a rearmost heel location of the sole         structure and/or at a forwardmost toe location of the sole         structure; and/or     -   (i) two or more of the ridges described above may define a         pocket or platform in the sole structure within which or between         which the entire top and bottom surfaces of the rigid plate         component are mounted.

When the impact force attenuating components (e.g., the first foam component and/or the second foam component described above) include a foam material, the foam component(s) may include a compression molded ethylene vinyl acetate (“EVA”) material. When more than one foam component is present in a sole structure, any of these foam components may include a compression molded ethylene vinyl acetate material, and the compression molded ethylene vinyl acetate materials within a single sole structure may be the same or different. Additionally or alternatively, if desired, the foam material(s) (optionally compression molded ethylene vinyl acetate material(s)) may have a hardness of at least 60 Asker C, and in some examples, at least 64 Asker C, at least 68 Asker C, within a range of 60 to 92 Asker C, within a range of 64 to 88 Asker C, within a range of 68 to 84 Asker C, within a range of 70 to 80 Asker C, or even within a range of 72 to 76 Asker C. In other examples of this invention, the foam material(s) (optionally compression molded ethylene vinyl acetate material(s)) may have a hardness of at least 42 Asker C, and in some examples, at least 45 Asker C, at least 48 Asker C, within a range of 42 to 82 Asker C, within a range of 45 to 78 Asker C, within a range of 48 to 72 Asker C, within a range of 50 to 68 Asker C, or even within a range of 52 to 56 Asker C.

In at least some examples of this invention, the rigid plate component will be the main component providing stiffness to the sole structure (at least stiffness or resistance to bending about a transverse axis or other medial side-to-lateral side axis thereof). Therefore, the rigid plate component may have a greater stiffness (at least stiffness or resistance to bending about a transverse axis or other medial side-to-lateral side axis thereof) than that of the cleated ground-engaging component, the first foam (or other impact force attenuating) component, and/or the second foam (or other impact force attenuating) component. Additionally or alternatively, the rigid plate component may have a thickness dimension (e.g., a dimension directly from its upper-facing surface to its ground-facing surface) of no greater than 2.5 mm through at least 70% of a surface area of the rigid plate component (and in some examples, through at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or even through 100% of the rigid plate component's surface area). If desired, the rigid plate component may be even thinner, e.g., no greater than 2 mm, no greater than 1.5 mm, no greater than 1 mm, or even no greater than 0.75 mm over any of the above noted area extents (i.e., through at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or even through 100% of the rigid plate component's surface area). The rigid plate component may extend continuously: (a) from a heel support area to a forefoot support area of the sole structure and/or (b) from a lateral side edge to a medial side edge of the sole structure, if desired.

In at least some examples of this invention, the cleated ground-engaging component may include a matrix structure having a plurality of cells, e.g., open cells, including plural open cells at least in a forefoot support region of the cleated ground-engaging component (and in some examples, plural open cells in a midfoot support region thereof and/or plural open cells in a heel support region thereof). In fact, in some sole structures in accordance with this invention, the matrix structure and/or the open cells thereof may extend continuously from a forefoot support region to a heel support region of the cleated ground-engaging component (including through the midfoot support region). The ground-engaging component may be formed to include an outer perimeter boundary rim extending around at least 80% of an outer perimeter of the ground-engaging component (and in some examples, around at least 90%, at least 95%, or even 100% of the outer perimeter), wherein an open space is defined between a lateral side of the outer perimeter boundary rim and a medial side of the outer perimeter boundary rim, and the matrix structure may extend from the outer perimeter boundary rim and across the open space.

In at least some examples of this invention, at least some cells of the matrix structure of the ground-engaging component may be defined by hexagonally shaped ridges, and if desired, at least some corners of the hexagonally shaped ridges may form sharp points extending in a direction away from the upper-facing surface of the ground-engaging component. If desired, these sharp points may function as “secondary” traction elements in the sole structure. In such structures, one cell of the matrix structure may be defined by a hexagonal ridge having six sides, wherein each side of the hexagonal ridge of this cell is shared with a corresponding cell located adjacent this cell. In this manner, the cell may be surrounded by six adjacent cells. At least some corners of the hexagonal ridge may form sharp points extending in a direction away from the upper-facing surface of the ground-engaging component, as described above. These “corners” may be located at regions of the matrix structure where three adjacent cells (or partial cells) meet. A cell or partial cell is “adjacent” to another cell or partial cell, as that term is used herein: (a) if a straight line can be drawn to connect openings/interiors of the two cells/partial cells without that straight line crossing through the open space/interior of another cell or partial cell or passing between two other adjacent cells or partial cells and/or (b) if the cells/partial cells share a wall. “Adjacent cells” (or partial cells) also may be located close to one another (e.g., so that a straight line distance between the openings/interiors of the cells is less than 1 inch long (and in some examples, less than 0.5 inches long). A “partial cell” means an incomplete open, partially open, or closed cell (e.g., a cell that terminates at an edge of the ground-engaging component 240, such as the partial cells shown in FIG. 7G discussed below).

Given this general description and background information, more specific examples of sole structures, sole structure components, and articles of footwear in accordance with aspects of this invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A-7H.

II. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF THIS INVENTION

FIGS. 2A-2C provide lateral side, medial side, and partial bottom views, respectively, of an article of footwear 200 in accordance with at least some aspects of this invention. This example article of footwear 200 is a track shoe, and more specifically, a track shoe targeted for field events, such as the triple jump or long jump events. Aspects of this invention, however, also may be used in shoes for other uses or athletic activities. The article of footwear 200 includes an upper 202 and a sole structure 204 engaged with the upper 202. The upper 202 and sole structure 204 may be engaged together in any desired manner, including in manners conventionally known and used in the footwear arts (such as by adhesives or cements, by stitching or sewing, by mechanical connectors, etc.).

The upper 202 of this example includes a foot-receiving opening 206 that provides access to an interior chamber into which the wearer's foot is inserted. The upper 202 further may include a tongue member 208 located across the foot instep area and positioned so as to moderate the feel of the closure system 210 (which in this illustrated example constitutes a lace type closure system) on the wearer's foot.

As mentioned above, the upper 202 may be made from any desired materials and/or in any desired constructions and/or manners without departing from this invention. As some more specific examples, at least a portion of the upper 202 (and optionally a majority, all, or substantially all of the upper 202) may be formed as a woven textile component, a knitted textile component, and/or a synthetic leather component. The textile components for upper 202 may have structures and/or constructions like those provided in FLYKNIT® brand footwear and/or via FLYWEAVE™ technology available in products from NIKE, Inc. of Beaverton, Oreg.

Additionally or alternatively, if desired, the upper 202 construction may include uppers having foot securing and engaging structures (e.g., “dynamic” and/or “adaptive fit” structures), e.g., of the types described in U.S. Patent Appln. Publn. No. 2013/0104423, which publication is entirely incorporated herein by reference. As some additional examples, if desired, uppers and articles of footwear in accordance with this invention may include foot securing and engaging structures of the types used in FLYWIRE® Brand footwear available from NIKE, Inc. of Beaverton, Oreg. Additionally or alternatively, if desired, uppers and articles of footwear in accordance with this invention may include fused layers of upper materials. As still additional examples, uppers of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,347,011 and/or 8,429,835 may be used without departing from this invention (each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,347,011 and 8,429,835 is entirely incorporated herein by reference).

The sole structure 204 of this example article of footwear 200 now will be described in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2T, the sole structure 204 of this example includes four main components, namely: (a) a ground-engaging component 240 (e.g., a cleated support plate) including an upper-facing surface 248U and a ground-facing surface 248G; (b) a first/lower impact force attenuating component 230 (e.g., a first foam component) that includes an upper-facing surface 232U and a ground-facing surface 232G (see also FIGS. 5A-5F), wherein the ground-facing surface 232G of the lower impact force attenuating component 230 is engaged with the upper-facing surface 248U of the ground-engaging component 240 (e.g., by cements or adhesives, by mechanical connectors, etc.); (c) a rigid plate component 220 that includes an upper-facing surface 222U and a ground-facing surface 222G (see also FIGS. 4A-4B and FIGS. 5E-5F), wherein the ground-facing surface 222G of the rigid plate component 220 is engaged with the upper-facing surface 232U of the lower impact force attenuating component 230 (e.g., by cements or adhesives, by mechanical connectors, etc.); and (d) a second/upper impact force attenuating component 212 (e.g., a second foam component) that includes an upper-facing surface 212U and a ground-facing surface 212G (see also FIGS. 3A-3D and FIGS. 5E-5F), wherein the ground-facing surface 212G of the upper impact force attenuating component 212 is engaged with the upper-facing surface 222U of the rigid plate component 220 (e.g., by cements or adhesives, by mechanical connectors, etc.). The sole structure 204 (e.g., the upper-facing surface 212U of the upper impact force attenuating component 212) may be engaged with the footwear upper 202, e.g., optionally engaged with the bottom surface (e.g., a strobel member) and/or side surface of the upper 202 via adhesives or cements, mechanical fasteners, sewing or stitching, etc.

In this illustrated example, a bottom/ground-facing surface 232G of the lower impact force attenuating component 230 is exposed at an exterior of the sole structure 204 substantially throughout the bottom of the sole structure 204 (and exposed over more than 40%, more than 50%, and even more than 75% of the bottom surface area of the sole structure 204). As shown in FIG. 2C and evident from FIGS. 6A and 6B, the ground-facing surface 232G of the lower impact force attenuating component 230 may be exposed at the forefoot support area, the arch support area, and/or the heel support area (through any open cells 252 and/or any partially open cells 254 of the ground-engaging component 240 (also called the “open space” 244 herein) described in more detail below).

FIGS. 2D-2T provide various additional views of a sole structure 204 in accordance with some examples of this invention. More specifically: FIG. 2D provides a top view of sole structure 204; FIG. 2E provides a bottom view; FIG. 2F provides a lateral side view; FIG. 2G provides a medial side view; FIG. 2H provides a front (toe) view; FIG. 2I provides a rear (heel) view; FIG. 2J provides a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along line J-J in FIGS. 2D and 2E; FIG. 2J provides a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along line J-J in FIGS. 2D and 2E; and FIGS. 2K through 2T provide transverse cross sectional views at the various noted locations in FIGS. 2D and 2E. These additional views provide more detailed information about the relative locations, sizes, and orientations of the various parts of sole structure 204. The various parts shown within FIGS. 2D-2T are shown to scale.

Features of individual components of sole structure 204 now will be described in more detail, starting with the upper impact force attenuating component 212 and with reference to FIGS. 3A-3D. These figures provide various views of the upper impact force attenuating component 212, including a top view (FIG. 3A), a bottom view (FIG. 3B), a close up side view of the rear heel area (FIG. 3C), and a close up side view of the forward toe area (FIG. 3D). As shown in these figures, this illustrated example impact force attenuating component 212 constitutes a one piece polymeric foam material (e.g., made from compression molded ethylene vinyl acetate, optionally compression molded EVA having a hardness of 52-56 Asker C or a hardness of 72-76 Asker C and a specific gravity of 0.095 to 0.105). Alternatively, if desired, this upper impact force attenuating component 212 may be made from two or more parts and/or may include other types of impact force attenuating structures, such as different types of foam, one or more fluid-filled bladders, one or more mechanical shock absorbing components, combinations of any two or more of these components, etc. This example upper impact force attenuating component 212 is sized and shaped to support an entire plantar surface of a wearer's foot (e.g., from rear heel to forward toe and from medial side to lateral side).

When made from or formed to include a foam material, the foam material may be relatively stiff and/or hard, particularly when the article of footwear 200 is designed for athletic use (e.g., in field events, such as the long jump or triple jump). In this manner, the wearer will lose less energy when the foot contacts the ground (e.g., energy is not lost in displacing a soft foam material). As some more specific examples, the foam material of this impact force attenuating component 212 may have a hardness of at least 60 Asker C (and in some examples, a hardness of at least 64 Asker C, at least 68 Asker C, within a range of 60 to 92 Asker C, within a range of 64 to 88 Asker C, within a range of 68 to 84 Asker C, within a range of 70 to 80 Asker C, or even within a range of 72 to 76 Asker C). In other examples, the foam material of this impact force attenuating component 212 may have a hardness of at least 42 Asker C, and in some examples, at least 45 Asker C, at least 48 Asker C, within a range of 42 to 82 Asker C, within a range of 45 to 78 Asker C, within a range of 48 to 72 Asker C, within a range of 50 to 68 Asker C, or even within a range of 52 to 56 Asker C.

The top surface 212U of this upper impact force attenuating component 212 may be contoured, e.g., based on the general shape of a human foot. The perimeter edges 212E of the top surface 212U may extend upward somewhat over at least some of the perimeter, e.g., to provide a generally “cupped” surface for engaging and positioning with respect to the upper 202.

As further shown in FIGS. 3B-3D, the ground-facing surface 212G of the upper impact force attenuating component 212 of this example includes a front lowered ridge 214R or wall and a lowered front support surface 214S extending forward from this front lowered ridge 214R. While other arrangements are possible, this front lowered ridge 214R and lowered front support surface 214S are located forward of a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the sole structure 204 and/or the overall article of footwear, wherein the perpendicular plane is located at about 0.94 L (e.g., see FIG. 2B). As some alternative potential features, this front lowered ridge 214R and lowered front support surface 214S may be located forward of a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the sole structure 204 and/or the overall article of footwear and located at 0.85 L, 0.9 L, 0.92 L, 0.94 L, or even 0.96 L. As will be described in more detail below (and shown in FIG. 5F), a forward edge 224 of the rigid plate component 220 may be located behind the front lowered ridge 214R and/or this forward edge 224 may be shaped and positioned so that the front of the rigid plate component 220 does not overlap the lowered front support surface 214S.

Similarly, the ground-facing surface 212G of the upper impact force attenuating component 212 of this example includes a rear lowered ridge 216R or wall and a lowered rear support surface 216S extending rearward from this rear lowered ridge 216R. While other arrangements are possible, this rear lowered ridge 216R and lowered rear support surface 216S are located rearward of a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the sole structure 204 and/or the overall article of footwear, wherein the perpendicular plane is located at about 0.04 L (e.g., see FIG. 2B). As some alternative potential features, this rear lowered ridge 216R and lowered rear support surface 216S may be located rearward of a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the sole structure 204 and/or the overall article of footwear and located at 0.1 L, 0.075 L, 0.06 L, 0.04 L, or even 0.03 L. As will be described in more detail below (and shown in FIG. 5E), a rearward edge 226 of the rigid plate component 220 may be located forward of the rear lowered ridge 216R and/or this rearward edge 226 may be shaped and positioned so that the rear of the rigid plate component 220 does not overlap the lowered rear support surface 216S.

The height(s) of the ridges 214R and/or 216R may be selected so as to provide at least a portion of a recess (or pocket) into which the rigid plate component 220 may fit in the finally assembled sole structure 204 (as will be described in more detail below in conjunction with FIGS. 5E and 5F). Accordingly, the ridge height H_(R) of the ridges 214R and/or 216R may be within a range of 0T_(P) to 1T_(P), wherein T_(P) represents a thickness of the rigid plate component 220 (from its upper-facing surface 222U to its ground-facing surface 222G). As some additional examples, the ridge height H_(R) may be within a range of 0.25T_(P) to 0.75T_(P), and in some examples from 0.4T_(P) to 0.6T_(P). If the thickness T_(P) of the rigid plate component 220 varies over its area, then T_(P) as used in these formulae constitutes the maximum thickness of the rigid plate component 220. The shape of the ground-facing surface 212G may be adjusted to accommodate changes in thickness and/or shape of the rigid plate component 220, if necessary.

As some more absolute dimensional features, if desired, the ridges 214R and/or 216R may have a height dimension H_(R) of no greater than 2.5 mm over at least 70% of their respective length (and in some examples, over at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or even over 100% of their respective length). If desired, the ridges 214R and/or 216R may be even shorter, e.g., no greater than 2 mm, no greater than 1.5 mm, no greater than 1 mm, no greater than 0.75 mm, or even no greater than 0.4 mm over any of the above noted length extents (i.e., over at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or even over 100% of the ridge's 214R and/or 216R length). The ridges 214R and/or 216R may be continuous or discontinuous. Also, while the ridges 214R and 216R may have the same height dimension H_(R) (when both are present), this is not a requirement.

FIGS. 4A and 4B provide top and bottom views, respectively, of the rigid plate component 220 of this illustrated example sole structure 204. The upper-facing surface 222U of the rigid plate component 220 may be engaged with the ground-facing surface 212G of the upper impact force attenuating component 212, e.g., using cements or adhesives. The rigid plate component 220 may be made of any suitable rigid material, including, for example, carbon fiber reinforced polymeric materials, metal materials, plastic materials, etc. The rigid plate component 220 may provide the greatest amount of stiffness or rigidity as compared to all of the materials of the sole structure 204 and/or the footwear structure 200 (e.g., at least the greatest resistance to bending along an axis extending in a transverse direction or other medial side-to-lateral side direction of the sole structure 204).

As further evident from the side views of rigid plate component 220 shown in FIGS. 2B, 2C, 5E, and 5F, in this example, the rigid plate component 220 has a thin, plate like construction. The rigid plate component 220, however, need not be flat, but rather, its surfaces 222U and/or 222G may be contoured and/or its thickness T_(P) may vary over the course of its length and/or surface area. As some more specific and absolute dimension examples, the rigid plate component 220 may have a thickness dimension T_(P) (a dimension directly from its upper-facing surface 222U to its ground-facing surface 222G) of no greater than 2.5 mm through at least 70% of a surface area of the rigid plate component 220 (and in some examples, through at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or even through 100% of the rigid plate component 220's surface area). If desired, the rigid plate component 220 may be even thinner, e.g., no greater than 2 mm, no greater than 1.5 mm, no greater than 1 mm, or even no greater than 0.75 mm over any of the above noted area extents (i.e., through at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or even through 100% of the rigid plate component 220's surface area). As some more specific ranges, the rigid plate component 220 may have a thickness over the above noted area extents within a range of 0.5 mm to 2 mm, and in some examples, within a range from 0.7 mm to 1.5 mm, or even from 0.75 mm to 1.25 mm. In some specific examples, the rigid plate component 220 may have a thickness of 1 mm (±10%), e.g., including 12 carbon fiber layers, or a thickness of 1.2 mm (±10%), e.g., including 20 carbon fiber layers. Another example plate component 220 in some examples of this invention includes 16 carbon fiber layers. While any number of carbon fiber layers could be used, some example ranges include from 8 to 25 layers, from 10 to 22 layers, or even from 12 to 20 layers. In general, the more layers of carbon fiber, the greater the stiffness of the rigid plate component 220 and the overall midsole structure, (as will be described in more detail below).

The rigid plate component 220 may extend continuously: (a) from a heel support area of the sole structure 204 to a forefoot support area of the sole structure 204 and/or (b) from a lateral side edge to a medial side edge of the sole structure 204. Thus, the rigid plate component 220 may underlie and support more than a majority of the plantar surface of a wearer's foot (and even more than 75% of the plantar surface). As shown in this illustrated example, however, the forwardmost edge 224 of the rigid plate component 220 stops short of the forwardmost point of the sole structure 204 such that the forwardmost edge 224 is engaged with the upper impact force attenuating component 212 behind the front lowered ridge 214R and/or such that the rigid plate component 220 does not overlap with the lowered front support surface 214S of the upper impact force attenuating component 212. Additionally or alternatively, as shown in this illustrated example, the rearwardmost edge 226 of the rigid plate component 220 stops short of the rearwardmost point of the sole structure 204 such that the rearwardmost edge 226 is engaged with the upper impact force attenuating component 212 forward of the rear lowered ridge 216R and/or such that the rigid plate component 220 does not overlap with the lowered rear support surface 216S of the upper impact force attenuating component 212.

As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, in this example, the rigid plate component 220 has a significant upward curvature moving from the midfoot support area and/or forefoot support area to the forwardmost edge 224. This upward curvature, together with the stiff/hard/resilient construction of the rigid plate component 220, can help provide return energy to the user's foot during use. For example, when landing a step or jump, the rigid plate component 220 may flatten out under the user's weight and ground contact force. Then, as the force on the rigid plate component 220 is sufficiently relaxed or reduced (e.g., as the user begins to lift his/her foot for the next step or jump), the rigid plate component 220 will return (e.g., “snap”) back to (or toward) its original curved configuration, which can have the effect of providing return energy to the user's foot and/or producing a propulsive feel.

FIG. 4C illustrates another example rigid plate component 220B in accordance with other examples of this invention. This example rigid plate component 220B may have any of the features, characteristics, materials, and/or constructions of rigid plate component 220 described above, and therefore detailed descriptions of these potentially common aspects are not repeated. One difference of this rigid plate component 220B as compared to those described above relates to the longitudinal length or forwardmost extent of the rigid plate component 220B. As shown in FIG. 4C, the forwardmost edge 224B of this example rigid plate component 220B terminates before reaching the extreme forefoot area of the sole structure 204.

As some more specific example ranges, the forwardmost edge 224B and/or the forwardmost point 224P of this example rigid plate component 220B (at the lateral edge of the rigid plate component 220B) may terminate at a location rearward from a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal length L of the overall midsole structure (e.g., the combination of components 212, 220B, and 230), the overall sole structure 204, and/or the overall footwear structure 200 and located at P=0.85 L (and in some examples, rearward of a perpendicular plane located at P=0.80 L or even rearward of a perpendicular plane located at P=0.75 L). As some more specific example ranges, the forwardmost edge 224B and/or the forwardmost point 224P of this example rigid plate component 220B may extend to and terminate at a location between planes perpendicular to the longitudinal length L of the overall midsole structure (e.g., the combination of components 212, 220B, and 230), the overall sole structure 204, and/or the overall footwear structure 200 and located at P=0.5 L and 0.85 L (and in some examples, between perpendicular plates located at P=0.55 L and 0.80 L or even between perpendicular plates located at P=0.6 L and 0.75 L). All perpendicular plane locations noted above are measured forward from the rearmost heel location of the relevant component (forward from the rearmost heel location of the overall midsole structure (e.g., the combination of components 212, 220B, and 230), the overall sole structure 204, and/or the overall footwear structure 200).

As further shown in FIG. 4C, the forwardmost point of lateral edge 224P is located further forward in the component 220B (and in the overall midsole structure, sole structure 204, and/or footwear structure 200) than the forwardmost point of the medial edge 220M. The somewhat shorter rigid plate component 220B may provide a somewhat softer (and more comfortable) landing for users, e.g., when participating in jumping events like the long jump or triple jump.

Features of the lower impact force attenuating component 230 now will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5A-5D. These figures provide various views of the lower impact force attenuating component 230, including a top view (FIG. 5A), a close up side view of the rear heel area (FIG. 5B), a close up side view of the forward toe area (FIG. 5C), and a bottom view (FIG. 5D). As shown in these figures, this illustrated example impact force attenuating component 230 constitutes a one piece polymeric foam material (e.g., made from compression molded ethylene vinyl acetate, optionally compression molded EVA having a hardness of 52-56 Asker C or a hardness of 72-76 Asker C and a specific gravity of 0.095 to 0.105). Alternatively, if desired, this lower impact force attenuating component 230 may be made from two or more parts and/or may include other types of impact force attenuating structures, such as different types of foam, one or more fluid-filled bladders, one or more mechanical shock absorbing components, combinations of any two or more of these components, etc. This example lower impact force attenuating component 230 is sized and shaped to support an entire plantar surface of a wearer's foot (e.g., from rear heel to forward toe and from medial side to lateral side).

When made from or formed to include a foam material, the foam material may be relatively stiff and/or hard, particularly when the article of footwear 200 is designed for athletic use (e.g., in field events, such as the long jump or triple jump). In this manner, the wearer will lose less energy when the foot contacts the ground (e.g., energy is not lost in displacing a soft foam material). As some more specific examples, the foam material of this impact force attenuating component 230 may have a hardness of at least 60 Asker C (and in some examples, a hardness of at least 64 Asker C, at least 68 Asker C, within a range of 60 to 92 Asker C, within a range of 64 to 88 Asker C, within a range of 68 to 84 Asker C, within a range of 70 to 80 Asker C, or even within a range of 72 to 76 Asker C). In other examples, the foam material of this impact force attenuating component 230 may have a hardness of at least 42 Asker C, and in some examples, at least 45 Asker C, at least 48 Asker C, within a range of 42 to 82 Asker C, within a range of 45 to 78 Asker C, within a range of 48 to 72 Asker C, within a range of 50 to 68 Asker C, or even within a range of 52 to 56 Asker C. The foam material and/or other structural features of the lower impact force attenuating component 230 may be the same as those of the upper impact force attenuating component 212, or these components 212/230 and/or structural features thereof may be different.

As further shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, the upper-facing surface 232U of the lower impact force attenuating component 230 of this example includes a front raised ridge 234R or wall and a raised front support surface 234S extending forward from this front raised ridge 234R. While other arrangements are possible, this front raised ridge 234R and raised front support surface 234S are located forward of a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the sole structure 204 and/or the overall article of footwear, wherein the perpendicular plane is located at about 0.94 L (e.g., see FIG. 2B). As some alternative potential features, this front raised ridge 234R and raised front support surface 234S may be located forward of a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the sole structure 204 and/or the overall article of footwear and located at 0.85 L, 0.9 L, 0.92 L, 0.94 L, or even 0.96 L. As will be described in more detail below (and shown in FIG. 5F), the forward edge 224 of the rigid plate component 220 may be located behind the front raised ridge 234R and/or this forward edge 224 may be shaped and positioned so that the front of the rigid plate component 220 does not overlap the raised front support surface 234S.

Similarly, the upper-facing surface 232G of the lower impact force attenuating component 230 of this example includes a rear raised ridge 236R or wall and a raised rear support surface 236S extending rearward from this rear raised ridge 236R. While other arrangements are possible, this rear raised ridge 236R and raised rear support surface 236S are located rearward of a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the sole structure 204 and/or the overall article of footwear, wherein the perpendicular plane is located at about 0.04 L (e.g., see FIG. 2B). As some alternative potential features, this rear raised ridge 236R and raised rear support surface 236S may be located rearward of a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the sole structure 204 and/or the overall article of footwear and located at 0.1 L, 0.075 L, 0.06 L, 0.04 L, or even 0.03 L. As will be described in more detail below (and shown in FIG. 5E), the rearward edge 226 of the rigid plate component 220 may be located forward of the rear raised ridge 236R and/or this rearward edge 226 may be shaped and positioned so that the rear of the rigid plate component 220 does not overlap the raised rear support surface 236S.

The height(s) of the ridges 234R and/or 236R may be selected so as to provide at least a portion of a recess (or pocket) into which the rigid plate component 220 may fit in the finally assembled sole structure 204 (as will be described in more detail below in conjunction with FIGS. 5E and 5F). Accordingly, the ridge height H_(R) of the ridges 234R and/or 236R may be within a range of 0T_(P) to 1T_(P), wherein T_(P) represents the thickness of the rigid plate component 220 (from its upper-facing surface 222U to its ground-facing surface 222G). As some additional examples, the ridge height H_(R) may be within a range of 0.25T_(P) to 0.75T_(P), and in some examples from 0.4T_(P) to 0.6T_(P). If the thickness T_(P) of the rigid plate component 220 varies over its area, then T_(P) as used in these formulae constitutes the maximum thickness of the rigid plate component 220. The shape of the upper-facing surface 232U may be adjusted to accommodate changes in thickness and/or shape of the rigid plate component 220, if necessary.

As some more absolute dimensional features, if desired, the ridges 234R and/or 236R may have a height dimension H_(R) of no greater than 2.5 mm over at least 70% of their respective length (and in some examples, over at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or even over 100% of their respective length). If desired, the ridges 234R and/or 236R may be even shorter, e.g., no greater than 2 mm, no greater than 1.5 mm, no greater than 1 mm, no greater than 0.75 mm, or even no greater than 0.4 mm over any of the above noted length extents (i.e., over at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or even over 100% of the ridge's 214R and/or 216R length). The ridges 234R and/or 236R may be continuous or discontinuous. Also, while the ridges 234R and 236R may have the same height dimension H_(R) (when both are present), this is not a requirement. Also, ridges 234R and/or 236R may have the same height or different heights from the ridges 214R and/or 216R of the upper impact force attenuating component 212.

The upper impact force attenuating component 212 may have an overall thickness through its plantar support surface of less than 12 mm (and in some examples, less than 10 mm or even less than 8 mm). Similarly, the lower impact force attenuating component 230 may have an overall thickness through its plantar support surface of less than 12 mm (and in some examples, less than 10 mm or even less than 8 mm). In this manner, together with the thin rigid plate component 220 (e.g., having the thickness dimensions described above) and the thin ground-engaging component 240, a relatively thin sole structure 204 can be provided.

When this example sole structure 204 is assembled (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 5E, and 5F), the front ridges 214R/234R and the rear ridges 216R/236R cooperate to define a space (or pocket or platform) between the ground-facing surface 212G of the upper impact force attenuating component 212 and the upper-facing surface 232U of the lower impact force attenuating component 230 into which the rigid plate component 220 is fit (and the various parts are secured together, e.g., by adhesives or cements). The front edge 224 of the rigid plate component 220 stops short of the forwardmost front end of the sole structure 204 (behind ridges 214R/234R, and optionally adjacent (e.g., within 1 mm to 5 mm) ridges 214R/234R), and the lowered front support surface 214S is directly engaged with the raised front support surface 234S at the forwardmost front end of the sole structure 204 (note FIG. 5F). This direct junction between the lowered front support surface 214S and the raised front support surface 234S is shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 5F at reference number 238F. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5E, the rear edge 226 of the rigid plate component 220 stops short of the rearwardmost back end of the sole structure 204 (ahead of ridges 216R/236R, and optionally adjacent (e.g., within 1 mm to 5 mm) ridges 216R/236R), and the lowered rear support surface 216S is directly engaged with the raised rear support surface 236S at the rearwardmost back end of the sole structure 204. This direct junction between the lowered rear support surface 216S and the raised rear support surface 236S is shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 5E at reference number 238R.

While the illustrated example shows sole structures 204 that include four ridges 214R, 234R, 216R, and 236R to define the space (e.g., pocket or platform) in which the rigid plate component 220 is mounted, other options are possible without departing from this invention. For example, the front end of the sole structure 204 may include a ridge like those described above on only one of the impact force attenuating components 212 and/or 230 (e.g., only one of 214R or 234R) and/or the rear end of the sole structure 204 may include a ridge like those described above on only one of the impact force attenuating components 212 and/or 230 (e.g., only one of 216R or 236R). In such structures, the single ridge may be sized and shaped so as to itself define the space (e.g., pocket or platform) for receiving the rigid plate component 220. As yet another option, if desired, ridge pairs 214R/234R and/or 216R/236R could be omitted from the front and/or rear areas, and the ground-facing surface 212G and upper facing surface 232U may simply be deformed (e.g., flexed) and bonded together at either or both ends of the sole structure 204 without the need for formation of a “pocket” (assuming the rigid plate component 220 in such structures extends to a location short of either or both ends of the sole structure 204).

The direct junction(s) 238F and/or 238R between the upper impact force attenuating component 212 and the lower impact force attenuating component 230, when present, can help provide a more stable and secure connection between the sole structure 204 components. For example, these direct junction(s) 238F and/or 238R at the extreme toe and heel ends can help prevent delamination of the sole structure 204 (e.g., by helping prevent the forward and/or rear ends of the rigid plate component 220 from “delaminating” or pulling apart from their connection to the impact attenuating components 212 and/or 230 if the bond between components 212 and 230 is stronger than the bond between components 212/220 and/or 230/220). The direct junction(s) 238F and/or 238R may be particularly useful in the present sole structure 204 due to the forefoot curvature of the rigid plate component 220, its resiliency, and its operation (e.g., flattening out under force applied by the user and returning to its original curved configuration when the force is sufficiently relaxed or removed).

In at least some examples of this invention, the rigid plate component 220 will be sized and shaped so as to overlap with at least 85% of the surface area of the upper impact force attenuating component 212 and/or at least 85% of the surface area of the lower impact force attenuating component 230 (and in some examples, at least 90% or even at least 95% of either (or both) of these surface areas). Additionally or alternatively, at least 2% of the surface area of the ground-facing surface 212G of the upper impact force attenuating component 212 may engage directly with at least 2% of the surface area of the upper-facing surface 232U of the lower impact force attenuating component 230 (e.g., at the front support surfaces 214S/234S and/or at the rear support surfaces 216S/236S). As some more specific examples, sole structures 204 in accordance with at least some examples of this invention may include any one or more of the following properties:

-   -   (a) front support surface 214S may constitute at least 1% and         less than 15% of the surface area of ground-facing surface 212G         (and in some examples, at least 2%, at least 3%, or even at         least 5% of the surface area of ground-facing surface 212G         and/or less than 12%, less than 10%, or even less than 8% of the         surface area of ground-facing surface 212G);     -   (b) front support surface 234S may constitute at least 1% and         less than 15% of the surface area of upper-facing surface 232U         (and in some examples, at least 2%, at least 3%, or at least 5%         of the surface area of upper-facing surface 232U and/or less         than 12%, less than 10%, or even less than 8% of the surface         area of upper-facing surface 232U);     -   (c) rear support surface 216S may constitute at least 1% and         less than 15% of the surface area of ground-facing surface 212G         (and in some examples, at least 1.5%, at least 2%, or even at         least 3% of the surface area of ground-facing surface 212G         and/or less than 10%, less than 7%, or even less than 5% of the         surface area of ground-facing surface 212G);     -   (d) rear support surface 236S may constitute at least 1% and         less than 15% of the surface area of upper-facing surface 232U         (and in some examples, at least 1.5%, at least 2%, or even at         least 3% of the surface area of upper-facing surface 232U and/or         less than 10%, less than 7%, or even less than 5% of the surface         area of upper-facing surface 232U);     -   (e) at least 1% of the surface area of the ground-facing surface         212G of the upper impact force attenuating component 212 will be         directly engaged with at least 1% of the surface area of the         upper-facing surface 232U of the lower impact force attenuating         component 230 in the forward toe area (and in some examples, at         least 2%, at least 3%, or at least 5% of these surface areas);     -   (f) less than 15% of the surface area of the ground-facing         surface 212G of the upper impact force attenuating component 212         will be directly engaged with less than 15% of the surface area         of the upper-facing surface 232U of the lower impact force         attenuating component 230 in the forward toe area (and in some         examples, less than 12%, less than 10%, or even less than 8% of         these surface areas);     -   (g) at least 1% of the surface area of the ground-facing surface         212G of the upper impact force attenuating component 212 will be         directly engaged with at least 1% of the surface area of the         upper-facing surface 232U of the lower impact force attenuating         component 230 in the rear heel area (and in some examples, at         least 1.5%, at least 2%, or even at least 3% of these surface         areas); and/or     -   (h) less than 15% of the surface area of the ground-facing         surface 212G of the upper impact force attenuating component 212         will be directly engaged with less than 15% of the surface area         of the upper-facing surface 232U of the lower impact force         attenuating component 230 in the rear heel area (and in some         examples, less than 10%, less than 7%, or even less than 5% of         these surface areas).

Example ground-engaging components 240 for sole structures 204/articles of footwear 200 in accordance with some examples of this invention now will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2C-2T and 6A-7H. As shown, these example ground-engaging components 240 include an outer perimeter boundary rim 242O, for example, that may be at least 3 mm (0.12 inches) wide (and in some examples, is at least 4 mm (0.16 inches) wide, at least 6 mm (0.24 inches) wide, or even at least 8 mm (0.32 inches) wide). This “width” W_(O) is defined as the direct, shortest distance from one (e.g., exterior) edge of the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O to its opposite (e.g., interior) edge by the open space 244, as shown in FIG. 6A. While FIGS. 6A and 6B show this outer perimeter boundary rim 242O extending completely and continuously around and defining 100% of an outer perimeter of the ground-engaging component 240, other options are possible. For example, if desired, there may be one or more breaks in the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O at the outer perimeter of the ground-engaging component 240 such that the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O is present around only at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or even at least 95% of the outer perimeter of the ground-engaging component 240. The outer perimeter boundary rim 242O may have a constant or changing width W_(O) over the course of its perimeter. The outer perimeter boundary rim 242O also may extend to define the outer edge of the sole structure 204 and/or may be sized and shaped to support an entire plantar surface of a wearer's foot.

FIGS. 2C, 6A, and 6B further show that the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O of the ground-engaging component 240 defines an open space 244 at least at a forefoot support area of the ground-engaging component 240, and in this illustrated example, the open space 244 extends continuously into the arch support area and the heel support area of the ground-engaging component 240. The rearmost extent 242R of the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O of these examples is located within the heel support area, and optionally at a rear heel support area of the ground-engaging component 240. The ground-engaging component 240 may fit and be fixed to the ground-facing surface 232G of the lower impact force attenuating element 230, e.g., by cements or adhesives, etc.

The ground-engaging components 240 of these examples are shaped so as to extend completely across the forefoot support area of the sole structure 204 from the lateral side to the medial side. In this manner, the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O forms the medial and lateral side edges of the bottom of the sole structure 204 at least at the forefoot medial and forefoot lateral sides and around the front toe area. The ground-engaging component 240 also may extend completely across the sole structure 204 from the lateral side edge to the medial side edge at other areas of the sole structure 204, including throughout the longitudinal length of the sole structure 204. In this manner, the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O may form the medial and lateral side edges of the bottom of the sole structure 204 throughout the sole structure 204, if desired.

The outer perimeter boundary rim 242O of this illustrated example ground-engaging component 240 defines an upper-facing surface 248U (e.g., see FIG. 6A) and a ground-facing surface 248G (e.g., see FIGS. 2C and 6B) opposite the upper-facing surface 248U. The upper-facing surface 248U provides a surface (e.g., a smooth and/or contoured surface) for supporting the wearer's foot and/or engaging the lower impact force attenuating component 230 (and/or optionally another sole structure component, such as rigid plate component 220 if no lower impact force attenuating component 230 is present or if it is not present throughout the full extent of the sole structure 204). The outer perimeter boundary rim 242O may provide a relatively large surface area for securely engaging another footwear component (such as the ground-facing surface 232G of the lower impact force attenuating component 230), e.g., a surface for bonding via adhesives or cements, for supporting stitches or sewn seams, for supporting mechanical fasteners, etc.

FIGS. 2C, 6A, and 6B further illustrate that the ground-engaging component 240 of this example sole structure 204 includes a support structure 250 that extends from the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O into and at least partially across (and optionally completely across) the open space 244. The top surface of this example support structure 250 at locations within the open space 244 lies flush with and/or smoothly transitions into the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O to provide a portion of the upper-facing surface 248U (and may be used for the purposes of the upper-facing surface 248U as described above).

The support structure 250 of these examples extends from the ground-facing surface 248G of the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O to define at least a portion of the ground-facing surface 248G of the ground-engaging component 240. In the illustrated examples of FIGS. 2C and 6A-6B, the support structure 250 includes a matrix structure (also labeled 250 herein) extending from the ground-facing surface 248G of the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O and into, partially across, or fully across the open space 244 to define a cellular construction. The illustrated matrix structure 250 defines at least one of: (a) one or more open cells located within the open space 244, (b) one or more partially open cells located within the open space 244, and/or (c) one or more closed cells, e.g., located beneath the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O. An “open cell” constitutes a cell in which the perimeter of the cell opening is defined completely by the matrix structure 250 (note, for example, cells 252). A “partially open cell” constitutes a cell in which one or more portions of the perimeter of the cell opening are defined by the matrix structure 250 within the open space 244 and one or more other portions of the perimeter of the cell opening are defined by another structure, such as the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O (note, for example, cells 254). A “closed cell” may have the outer matrix structure 250 but no opening (e.g., it may be formed such that the portion of the matrix structure 250 that would define the cell opening is located under the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O, note, for example, cells 256). The open space 244 and/or matrix structure 250 may extend to all areas of the ground-engaging component 240 within or inside of the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O.

As further shown in FIGS. 2C and 6B, the matrix structure 250 further defines one or more primary traction element or cleat support areas 260. Six separate cleat support areas 260 are shown in this example, including: (a) three primary cleat support areas 260 on the medial side of the ground-engaging component 240 (one at or near a medial forefoot support area or a medial midfoot support area of the ground-engaging component 240, one forward of that one in the medial forefoot support area, and one forward of that one at the medial toe support area); (b) two primary cleat support area 260 on the lateral side of the ground-engaging component 240 (one at or near a lateral forefoot support area or a lateral midfoot support area of the ground-engaging component 240 and one forward of that one at the lateral toe support area); and (c) one primary cleat support area 260 between the rearmost lateral and rearmost medial cleat support areas 260 described above (e.g., in the central midfoot or central forefoot support areas). Primary traction elements, such as track spikes 262 or other cleats, may be engaged or integrally formed with the ground-engaging component 240 at the cleat support areas 260 (e.g., with one cleat or track spike 262 provided per cleat support area 260). The cleats or track spikes 262 (also called “primary traction elements” herein) may be permanently fixed at cleat mount areas 260 in their associated cleat support areas 260, such as by in-molding the cleats or track spikes 262 into the cleat support areas 260 when the matrix structure 250 is formed (e.g., by molding). In such structures, the cleat or track spike 262 may include a disk or outer perimeter member that is embedded in the material of the cleat support area 260 during the molding process. As another alternative, the cleats or track spikes 262 may be removably mounted to the ground-engaging component 240 at cleat mount areas, e.g., by a threaded type connector, a turnbuckle type connector, or other removable cleat/spike structures as are known and used in the footwear arts. Hardware or other structures for mounting the removable cleats may be integrally formed in the cleat support area 260 or otherwise engaged in the cleat support area 260 (e.g., by in-molding, adhesives, or mechanical connectors).

The cleat support areas 260 can take on various structures without departing from this invention. In the illustrated example, the cleat support areas 260 are defined by and as part of the matrix structure 250 as a thicker portion of matrix material located within or partially within the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O and/or located within the open space 244. As various options, if desired, one or more of the cleat support areas 260 may be defined in one or more of the following areas: (a) solely in the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O, (b) partially in the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O and partially in the open space 244, and/or (c) completely within the open space 244 (and optionally located at or adjacent the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O). When multiple cleat support areas 260 are present in a single ground-engaging component 240, all of the cleat support areas 260 need not have the same size, construction, and/or orientation with respect to the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O and/or open space 244 (although they all may have the same size, construction, and/or orientation, if desired).

In at least some examples of this invention, the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O and the support structure 250 extending into/across the open space 244 may constitute an unitary, one-piece construction. The one-piece construction can be formed from a polymeric material, such as a PEBAX® brand polymer material or a thermoplastic polyurethane material. As another example, if desired, the ground-engaging component 240 may be made as multiple parts (e.g., split at the forward-most toe area, split along the front-to-back direction, and/or split or separated at other areas), wherein each part includes one or more of: at least a portion of the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O and at least a portion of the support structure 250. As another option, if desired, rather than an unitary, one-piece construction, one or more of the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O and the support structure 250 individually may be made of two or more parts. The material of the matrix structure 250 and/or ground-engaging component 240 in general may be relatively stiff, hard, and/or resilient so that when the ground-engaging component 240 flexes in use (e.g., when sprinting or running fast), the material tends to return (e.g., spring) the component 240 back to or toward its original shape and structure when the force is removed or sufficiently relaxed (e.g., as occurs during a step cycle when the foot is lifting off the ground). Alternatively, if desired, the ground-engaging component 240 may be less stiff and rigid (and particularly less stiff and rigid than the rigid plate component 220, such that the rigid plate component 220 is the most rigid and/or stiff component in the sole structure 204 and/or such that the rigid plate component 220 is the primary source or contributor to the sole structure 204's stiffness, rigidity, and/or energy return). The above stiffness and/or rigidity properties may apply to create and/or provide a resistance to bending of the various components (and particularly a resistance to bending about a transverse or other medial side to lateral side axis of the components). As one more specific example, the ground-engaging component 240 may be made from a BZM08 material available from Arkema having a 92% polyamide (nylon) 11 content and 8% glass fiber filler content, a hardness of 71-77 Shore D, and a specific gravity of 1.05-1.09.

As some more specific examples, the rigid plate component 220 may have at least 25% greater stiffness and/or at least 25% higher resistance to bending than the ground-engaging component 240, at least with respect to bending of each about an axis oriented in a transverse direction of the component 220 (or an axis about another medial side-to-lateral side direction). Also, if desired, the rigid plate component 220 may have at least 50%, at least 75%, at least 100%, or even at least 150% greater stiffness and/or at least 50%, at least 75%, at least 100%, or even at least 150% higher resistance to bending (e.g., about a transverse axis or other medial side-to-lateral side axis) than the ground-engaging component 240 and/or any other sole structure 204 component.

Optionally, the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O and the support structure 250, whether made from one part or more, will have a combined mass of less than 95 grams (exclusive of any separate primary traction elements, like spikes 262, and/or primary traction element mounting hardware), and in some examples, a combined mass of less than 75 grams, less than 65 grams, less than 55 grams, or even less than 50 grams. The entire ground-engaging component 240 (including any separate primary traction elements and/or mounting hardware therefor) also may have any of these same weighting characteristics.

FIG. 6B illustrates additional features that may be present in ground-engaging components 240 and/or articles of footwear 200 in accordance with at least some aspects of this invention. In FIG. 6B, the rear heel RH and forward toe FT locations of the ground-engaging component 240 (and, optionally, the sole structure 204) are identified and the longitudinal length L and direction identified. Planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (and going into and out of the page of FIG. 6B) are shown, and the locations of various ground-engaging component 240 features are described with respect to these planes. More specifically, potential primary traction element locations for the six illustrated primary traction elements 262 are described in the following table (with the “locations” being measured from a center location (or point) of the ground-contacting portion of the cleat/spike 262):

More Specific Illustrated General Range Range Location Rear Medial  0.5 L to 0.8 L 0.55 L to 0.76 L  0.7 L Cleat Middle Medial 0.65 L to 0.9 L  0.7 L to 0.85 L 0.83 L Cleat Forward Medial 0.84 L to 0.99 L 0.88 L to 0.98 L 0.93 L Cleat Rear Lateral  0.5 L to 0.75 L 0.55 L to 0.72 L 0.67 L Cleat Forward Lateral 0.84 L to 0.99 L 0.88 L to 0.98 L 0.93 L Cleat Central Cleat  0.5 L to 0.75 L 0.55 L to 0.72 L 0.67 L If desired, however, one or more additional primary traction elements 262 can be provided at other locations of the ground-engaging component 240 structure, including rearward of either or both of the identified rear cleats, between the identified medial cleats, forward of either or both of the forward-most cleats, and/or between the lateral and medial cleats (e.g., in the matrix structure 250 within the open area 244, at a central forward toe location, etc.).

FIGS. 7A through 7H are provided to help illustrate potential features of the matrix structure 250 and the various cells described above. FIG. 7A provides an enlarged top view showing the upper-facing surface 248U at an area around an open cell 252 defined by the matrix structure 250 (the open space is shown at 244). FIG. 7B shows an enlarged bottom view of this same area of the matrix structure 250 (showing the ground-facing surface 248G). FIG. 7C shows a side view at one leg 502 of the matrix structure 250, and FIG. 7D shows a cross-sectional and partial perspective view of this same leg 502 area. As shown in these figures, the matrix structure 250 provides a smooth top (upper-facing) surface 248U but a more angular ground-facing surface 248G. More specifically, at the ground-facing surface 248G, the matrix structure 250 defines a generally hexagonal ridge 504 around the open cell 252, with the corners 504C of the hexagonal ridge 504 located at a junction area between three adjacent cells in a generally triangular arrangement (the junction of the open cell 252 and two adjacent cells 252J, which may be open, partially open, and/or closed cells, in this illustrated example).

As further shown in these figures, along with FIG. 7E (which shows a sectional view along line 7E-7E of FIG. 7B), the side walls 506 between the upper-facing surface 248U at cell perimeter 244P and the ground-facing surface 248G, which ends at ridge 504 in this example, are sloped. Thus, the overall matrix structure 250, at least at some locations between the generally hexagonal ridge 504 corners 504C, may have a triangular or generally triangular shaped cross section (e.g., see FIGS. 7D and 7E). Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D, the generally hexagonal ridge 504 may be sloped or curved from one corner 504C to the adjacent corners 504C (e.g., with a local maxima point P located between adjacent corners 504C). The side walls 506 may have a planar surface (e.g., like shown in FIG. 7H), a partially planar surface (e.g., planar along some of its height/thickness dimension Z), a curved surface (e.g., a concave surface as shown in FIG. 7E), or a partially curved surface (e.g., curved along some of its height dimension Z).

The raised corners 504C of the generally hexagonal ridge 504 in this illustrated example ground-engaging component 240 may be formed as sharp peaks that may act as secondary traction elements at desired locations around the ground-engaging component 240. As evident from these figures and the discussion above, the generally hexagonal ridges 504 and side walls 506 from three adjacent cells (e.g., 252 and two 252J cells) meet at a single (optionally raised) corner 504C and thus may form a substantially pyramid type structure (e.g., a pyramid having three side walls 252F, 506 that meet at a point 504C). This substantially pyramid type structure can have a sharp point (e.g., depending on the slopes of walls 252F, 506), which can function as a secondary traction element when it contacts the ground in use.

Not every cell (open, partially open, or closed) in the ground-engaging component 240 needs to have this type of secondary traction element structure (e.g., with raised pointed pyramids at the generally hexagonal ridge 504 corners 504C), and in fact, not every generally hexagonal ridge 504 corner 504C around a single cell 252 needs to have a raised secondary traction element structure. One or more of the ridge components 504 of a given cell 252 may have a generally straight line structure along the ground-facing surface 248G and/or optionally a linear or curved structure that moves closer to the upper-facing surface 248U moving from one corner 504C to an adjacent corner 504C. In this manner, secondary traction elements may be placed at desired locations around the ground-engaging element 240 structure and left out (e.g., with smooth corners 504C and/or edges in the z-direction) at other desired locations. Additionally or alternatively, if desired, raised points and/or other secondary traction elements could be provided at other locations on the matrix structure 250, e.g., anywhere along ridge 504 or between adjacent cells.

Notably, in this example construction, the matrix structure 250 defines at least some of the cells 252 (and 252J) such that the perimeter of the entrance to the cell opening 252 around the upper-facing surface 248U (e.g., defined by perimeter 244P of the ovoid shaped opening) may be smaller than the perimeter of the entrance to the cell opening 252 around the ground-facing surface 248G (e.g., defined by the generally hexagonal perimeter ridge 504). Stated another way, the area of the entrance to the cell opening 252 from the upper-facing surface 248U (e.g., the area within and defined by the perimeter 244P of the ovoid shaped opening) may be smaller than the area of the entrance to the cell opening 252 from the ground-facing surface 248G (e.g., the area within and defined by the generally hexagonal perimeter ridge 504). The generally hexagonal perimeter ridge 504 completely surrounds the perimeter 244P in at least some cells. These differences in the entrance areas and sizes are due to the sloped/curved sides walls 506 from the upper-facing surface 248U to the ground-facing surface 248G.

FIGS. 7F through 7H show views similar to those in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7E but with a portion of the matrix structure 250 originating in the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O (and thus the cell is a partially open cell 254). As shown in FIG. 7G, in this illustrated example, the matrix structure 250 morphs outward and downward from the ground-facing surface 248G of the outer perimeter boundary rim 242O. This may be accomplished, for example, by molding the matrix structure 250 as an unitary, one-piece component with the outer perimeter boundary rim member 242O. Alternatively, the matrix structure 250 could be formed as a separate component that is fixed to the outer perimeter boundary rim member 242O, e.g., by cements or adhesives, by mechanical connectors, etc. As another option, the matrix structure 250 may be made as an unitary, one-piece component with the outer perimeter boundary rim member 242O by rapid manufacturing techniques, including rapid manufacturing additive fabrication techniques (e.g., 3D printing, laser sintering, etc.) or rapid manufacturing subtractive fabrication techniques (e.g., laser ablation, etc.). The structures and various parts shown in FIGS. 7F-7H may have any one or more of the various characteristics, options, and/or features of the similar structures and parts shown in FIGS. 7A-7E (and like reference numbers in these figures represent the same or similar parts to those used in other figures).

Midsole structures, e.g., including components 212, 220, and 230 of the construction/types shown in FIGS. 2A-2T, were tested for stiffness features. Specifically, two different example midsole structures were tested, each including: (a) a compression EVA foam upper midsole component 212 having a hardness in the range of 72-76 Asker C and a specific gravity in the range of 0.095 to 0.105; (b) a carbon fiber intermediate rigid component 220; and (c) a compression EVA foam lower midsole component 230 having a hardness in the range of 72-76 Asker C and a specific gravity in the range of 0.095 to 0.105. The difference in the two samples related to the carbon fiber intermediate rigid component 220. Example 1 included 12 layers of carbon fiber making up the plate 220 while Example 2 included 16 layers of carbon making up the plate 220.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate features of a stiffness/bending test (i.e., a three point bending test) conducted on these samples. As shown in FIG. 8A, the test specimen (the midsole structures of Examples 1 and 2 described above) is mounted between two support posts located a fixed distance apart (e.g., 30 mm in the example of FIG. 8A). This orients the test specimen above the mounting surface such that there is empty space below the test specimen except at the support points. A compression probe is lowered to the top side of the test specimen at a location that is half the distance between the two bottom support points. The compression probe then is lowered at a constant rate (e.g., 5 mm/min). A load cell measures the load as the test specimen resists the downward movement of the probe. The displacement of the probe is also measured. The data from this test may be used to calculate flexural stress and modulus at a fixed span and crosshead speed. The test specimen may be subjected to the stress (from the descending probe) until the test specimen breaks (e.g., until the applied load value drops), and the flexural stress value at the breakage/failure point then is recorded. If the test specimen is not broken within a maximum test displacement distance (e.g., after movement of the probe 10 mm), then the maximum stress observed is considered the flexural stress of the specimen. The flexural stress may be calculated as follows:

Flexural Stress, MPa(N/mm²)=3 FL/2 bh²,

in which F represents the applied force (in N, measured by the load cell), L represents the span length (30 mm in this example), b represents the specimen width (into and out of the page of FIG. 8A, measured in mm), and h represents the specimen thickness (in mm).

The dark lines in FIG. 8B generally show locations for application of bending force to the midsole component 212/220/230 by the compression probe of FIG. 8A for three point bend stiffness testing, as described above. The dimensions in FIG. 8B show the relative locations of the bending tests in this example. Thus, four points of bending stiffness were tested on each of Examples 1 and 2 above, and the following data was collected:

TABLE 1 3 Point Bend Stiffness Measurements (N/mm) Position 1 Position 2 (Next Position 3 (Next Position 4 Sample (Forefoot) Rearward) Rearward) (Arch) Example 1 (12 260 253 239 138 Layers Carbon Fiber) Example 2 (16 309 336 340 244 Layers Carbon Fiber)

As shown in the Table, both midsole structures had considerable stiffness in the forefoot and midfoot areas. The Table further illustrates the increase in stiffness obtainable by increasing the number of carbon fiber layers in rigid component 220.

Footwear structures in accordance with at least some examples of this invention may have stiffness properties within one or more of the following ranges (based on the measurement location features shown in FIG. 8B): (a) a forefoot stiffness within a range of 65-75 mm rearward from the forward toe location within a range of 200 to 380 N/mm (and in some examples, within a range of 220 to 360 N/mm or even 230 to 350 N/mm); (b) a forefoot/midfoot stiffness within a range of 92 to 112 mm rearward from the forward toe location within a range of 200 to 400 N/mm (and in some examples, within a range of 220 to 380 N/mm or even 230 to 360 N/mm); (c) a midfoot stiffness within a range of 120 to 145 mm rearward from the forward toe location within a range of 180 to 400 N/mm (and in some examples, within a range of 200 to 380 N/mm or even 220 to 360 N/mm); and a midfoot stiffness within a range of 155 to 180 mm rearward from the forward toe location within a range of 90 to 320 N/mm (and in some examples, within a range of 100 to 300 N/mm or even 110 to 280 N/mm).

II. CONCLUSION

The present invention is disclosed above and in the accompanying drawings with reference to a variety of embodiments and/or options. The purpose served by the disclosure, however, is to provide examples of various features and concepts related to the invention, not to limit the scope of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the features of the invention described above without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising: a cleated ground-engaging component having an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface; a first foam component that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the first foam component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the cleated ground-engaging component; a rigid plate component that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the rigid plate component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the first foam component; and a second foam component that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the second foam component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the rigid plate component.
 2. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the upper-facing surface of the first foam component includes a front raised ridge and a raised front support surface extending forward from the front raised ridge, wherein the ground-facing surface of the second foam component includes a front lowered ridge and a lowered front support surface extending forward from the front lowered ridge, and wherein a forward edge of the rigid plate component is located adjacent and behind the front raised ridge and behind the front lowered ridge, and wherein the upper-facing surface of the first foam component includes a rear raised ridge and a raised rear support surface extending rearward from the rear raised ridge, wherein the ground-facing surface of the second foam component includes a rear lowered ridge and a lowered rear support surface extending rearward from the rear lowered ridge, and wherein a rearward edge of the rigid plate component is located adjacent and forward of the rear raised ridge and forward of the rear lowered ridge.
 3. The sole structure according to claim 2, wherein the raised front support surface and the lowered front support surface are directly engaged together, and wherein the raised rear support surface and the lowered rear support surface are directly engaged together.
 4. The sole structure according to claim 3, wherein a medial side edge of the rigid plate component is exposed at an exterior of the sole structure between the first foam component and the second foam component, and/or wherein a lateral side edge of the rigid plate component is exposed at the exterior of the sole structure between the first foam component and the second foam component.
 5. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the upper-facing surface of the first foam component includes a raised front support surface, wherein a forwardmost portion of the rigid plate component does not overlap the raised front support surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the second foam component includes a lowered front support surface, wherein the forwardmost portion of the rigid plate component does not overlap the lowered front support surface, and wherein the raised front support surface and the lowered front support surface are directly engaged together.
 6. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the upper-facing surface of the first foam component includes a raised rear support surface, wherein a rearwardmost portion of the rigid plate component does not overlap the raised rear support surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the second foam component includes a lowered rear support surface, wherein the rearwardmost portion of the rigid plate component does not overlap the lowered rear support surface, and wherein the raised rear support surface and the lowered rear support surface are directly engaged together.
 7. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the upper-facing surface of the first foam component includes a raised front support surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the second foam component includes a lowered front support surface, and wherein a forwardmost portion of the rigid plate component does not overlap the raised front support surface and does not overlap the lowered front support surface, and wherein the upper-facing surface of the first foam component includes a raised rear support surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the second foam component includes a lowered rear support surface, and wherein a rearwardmost portion of the rigid plate does not overlap the raised rear support surface and does not overlap of the lowered rear support surface.
 8. The sole structure according to claim 7, wherein the raised front support surface and the lowered front support surface are directly engaged together, and wherein the raised rear support surface and the lowered rear support surface are directly engaged together.
 9. The sole structure according to claim 8, wherein a medial side edge of the rigid plate component is exposed at an exterior of the sole structure between the first foam component and the second foam component, and/or wherein a lateral side edge of the rigid plate component is exposed at the exterior of the sole structure between the first foam component and the second foam component.
 10. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein a medial side edge of the rigid plate component is exposed at an exterior of the sole structure between the first foam component and the second foam component, and/or wherein a lateral side edge of the rigid plate component is exposed at the exterior of the sole structure between the first foam component and the second foam component.
 11. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the first foam component has a hardness of at least 64 Asker C and/or wherein the second foam component has a hardness of at least 64 Asker C.
 12. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the first foam component is formed of a first compression molded ethylene vinyl acetate material, wherein the second foam component is formed of a second compression molded ethylene vinyl acetate material, and wherein the first compression molded ethylene vinyl acetate material is the same as or different from the second compression molded ethylene vinyl acetate material.
 13. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the rigid plate component has a greater stiffness than the cleated ground-engaging component, the first foam component, and the second foam component.
 14. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein a thickness dimension of the rigid plate component from the upper-facing surface to the ground-facing surface thereof is no greater than 1.5 mm through at least 80% of a surface area of the rigid plate component.
 15. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein a thickness dimension of the rigid plate component from the upper-facing surface to the ground-facing surface thereof is no greater than 1 mm.
 16. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the rigid plate component extends continuously: (a) from a heel support area to a forefoot support area of the sole structure and (b) from a lateral side edge to a medial side edge of the sole structure.
 17. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the cleated ground-engaging component includes a matrix structure including a plurality of open cells including plural open cells in a forefoot support region of the cleated ground-engaging component.
 18. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the cleated ground-engaging component includes a matrix structure including a plurality of open cells including plural open cells in a forefoot support region of the cleated ground-engaging component, plural open cells in a midfoot support region of the cleated ground-engaging component, and plural open cells in a heel support region of the cleated ground-engaging component.
 19. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising: a first impact force attenuating component that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the upper-facing surface of first impact force attenuating component includes a raised front support surface and a raised rear support surface; a rigid plate component that includes an upper-facing surface, a ground-facing surface, a forward edge, and a rearward edge, wherein the ground-facing surface of the rigid plate component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the first impact force attenuating component; and a second impact force attenuating component that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the second impact force attenuating component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the rigid plate component, wherein the ground-facing surface of the second impact force attenuating component includes a lowered front support surface and a lowered rear support surface, and wherein a forwardmost portion of the rigid plate component does not overlap the raised front support surface and does not overlap the lowered front support surface, and wherein a rearwardmost portion of the rigid plate component does not overlap the raised rear support surface and does not overlap the lowered rear support surface.
 20. The sole structure according to claim 19, wherein the raised front support surface and the lowered front support surface are directly engaged together, and wherein the raised rear support surface and the lowered rear support surface are directly engaged together.
 21. The sole structure according to claim 19, wherein a medial side edge of the rigid plate component is exposed at an exterior of the sole structure between the first impact force attenuating component and the second impact force attenuating component, and/or wherein a lateral side edge of the rigid plate component is exposed at the exterior of the sole structure between the first impact force attenuating component and the second impact force attenuating component.
 22. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising: a first impact force attenuating component that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface; a rigid plate component that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the rigid plate component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the first impact force attenuating component, and wherein the rigid plate component extends continuously: (a) from a heel support area to a forefoot support area of the sole structure and (b) from a lateral side edge to a medial side edge of the sole structure; and a second impact force attenuating component that includes an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, wherein the ground-facing surface of the second impact force attenuating component is engaged with the upper-facing surface of the rigid plate component, and wherein (a) at a rear heel location of the sole structure, the upper-facing surface of the first impact force attenuating component is engaged directly with the ground-facing surface of the second impact force attenuating component and (b) at a forward toe location of the sole structure, the upper-facing surface of the first impact force attenuating component is engaged directly with the ground-facing surface of the second impact force attenuating component, such that the rigid plate component is not exposed at an exterior of the sole structure at a rearmost heel location of the sole structure and the rigid plate component is not exposed at an exterior of the sole structure at a forwardmost toe location of the sole structure.
 23. The sole structure according to claim 22, wherein a medial side edge of the rigid plate component is exposed at an exterior of the sole structure between the first impact force attenuating component and the second impact force attenuating component, and/or wherein a lateral side edge of the rigid plate component is exposed at the exterior of the sole structure between the first impact force attenuating component and the second impact force attenuating component. 